Bowling-ball and handle.



/N VEN TOH Afro/Mfrs PATENTBD APR. 14.1908.

F. J. MOGUANE.

, BOWLING BALL AND HANDLE. APPLICATION PILED-JANXZG, 1907.

FELIX J., MCGUANE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BOWLING-BALL AND HANDLE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 14, 1908.

Application filed January 26, 1907.' Serial N o. 354,199.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FELIX J. MoGUANn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and Improved Bowling-Balls andv Handles for Casting or Throwing Them, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the game of bowling, and has for its objects to provide a handle grip by which a bowling ball maybe held conveniently by the player, the handle grip fitting the players hand and'being so constructed that it may be readily and instantly freed from the ball at the will of the player with sufficient momentum to carry it down the bowling alley.

Another object of the Vinvention is to provide a bowling ball so constructed that it will fit the handle grip'bywhich it may be temporarily held.

The specification and drawings which accompany my application, disclose one embodiment of my invention, the scope of which however is not limited thereto, but is set forth in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this speciiication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, in which Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the handle or gun, showing the stem thereof inserted in the ball without being locked thereto Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of Fig.

1, showing the pivotalvkeys of the stem of the handle or gun thrown out preparatory to locking the ball to the handle or gun; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the stem of the gun orhandle on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 g and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the central portion of a bowling ball showing a modified construction on a smaller scale.

The handle grip 1 has a pistol grip with finger holes 2, which is made to fit the hand of the player. It is preferable to fill the frame 4 of the grip with cork or other suitable material 5 which may be secured thereto in the manner usual in the manufacture of pistol grips. Projecting from the grip is a stem piece 3 at the center of the inner vterminal of which is a boss 6. The stem piece 3 is bored from the outer terminal inwardly to form the cylindrical hole 7 which extends to a point in close proximity to the bossu at the inner terminal of the stem. A cylindrical hole 8 smaller in diameter than the hole 7 but with the same axis is bored from the inner terminal of the hole 7 -through the remainder of the stem 3 and the boss 6. Four slots 9, each at right angles to each of the adjoining ones and all longitudinal of the stem, are cut in the outer terminal in the stem through to the cylindrical hole 7. An annular roove 10 is cut around the stem 3 intermediate of the terminals of the slots 9 but nearer the inner terminal. A rod 11 extends through the hole of the stem piece 3 the said ro having a spreader 12 at the outer terminal and a screw thread at the inner terminal. The rod 11 is turned to iit the cylindrical hole 7 from the spreader 12 for the greater part of its length, the other terminal of the rod being turned to fit the smaller hole 8 and to permit a lspiral spring 13 to be introduced around the rod between the abutments formed by the inner terminal 14 of the larger hole 7 -and inner terminal 15 of the greater diameter of the rod 11. At a point near the inner terminal of the lar er diameter of the rod 11 is turned la shoul er 16. On the outside of the stem piece near the grip is a thumb lever 28 pivoted at 17, at the terminal of one arm of which is pivoted a bolt 18, and on the other arm is a thumb piece. The bolt 18 is adapted to fit throu h an opening the stem a ainst "the shoulder 16 of the rod 11 and the eaf spring 19 on the thumb lever is adapted to hold it in this position until pressure is brought to bear on the thumb piece on the lever 16. In each of the four slots 9 is inserted a pivoted key 2O the wire or ring 21 passing around the rod in the roove 10. Leaf springs 22 hold the pivotal eys 2O snug against the rod 11 without exposing any part thereof without the periphery of the stem piece. The outer terminals of the keys are curved inwardly with notches 23 at the termination of the curves so that they may be readily diverged by the spreader 12 and be retained in that position by the notches 23, fitting the spreader. When the rod 11 is introduced in the hole of the stem piece the spring 13 having been adjusted thereon a nut is screwed on its inner terminal. A longitudinal key 29 is inserted in a groove in the front of the stem piece and projects beyond its surface.

The bowling ball which I propose to use in Vconnection with my handle or gun is constructed as follows: The ball 24 has a hole said keys having as bearings a bored therein in ,which is inserted a lining or bushing 25. The head of the lining of the hole in the ball, which is preferably made separate from the cylindrical portion, has an outwardly projecting portion 26 which is axially alined with the axis of the hole in the ball.- The cylindrical lining of the hole in the ball a short distance from the inner pore tions converges, being frusto-conical in shape, until it meets the stem of the grip when it continues of that diameter for the remainder of its length; The lining or bushing does not extend to the surface of the ball nor is it of a diameter as great as that of the hole in the ball for some distance from its outer terminal. In this space between the lining or bushing and the ball is inserted a fiber or other material 30, which extends to the surface of the ball and conforms therewith. The fiber .or similar material 30 is introduced to prevent any of the metal parts of the lining or bushing from coming into contact with the bowling alley or pins when the ball is being used. A groove 27 is made in the lining of the ball to fit the key 29 of the stem of the grip.

ln Fig. 4 l have shown a modified construction of the bowling ball, in which it is unnecessary to use the fiber 30 to keep the bushing 25 from comingl into contact with the pins or alley. In this construction, a hole 31 is bored nearly through the ball, the hole being tapered with a counterbore and the remainder ofthe ball beine 'bored through to form a hole 32 of less diameter than the hole passing nearly through the ball, the different diameters of the hole being joined by the tapered portion 33. The bushing 25a is then driven through the ball up against the tapered portion 33, and a wooden plug 34, having a screw or projection 26 a on its inner end, is driven into the ball up against the bushing, and its outer end is rounded off to conform to the contour of the ball. As the neck of the bushing is not long .enough to reach the surface of the ball, no

part of the bushing can come into contact with the bowling alley or pins.'

In using my invention, the stem of the grip is introduced in the hole in the ball and is pressed downwardly so that the spreader 12 will come in contact with the projecting member 26 and will prevent the rod 11 from going further, while the stein piece may be pushed iii-further until the pivotal keys 2O are pressed outwardly by the spreader 12, the notches 23 'fitting the spreader and the bob 18 s ringing into active position against the shou der 16. lf the grip is now lifted it will be found that the pivoted keys 2O abut against the truste-conical surface of the lining or bushing and that the bowling ball is locked to the grip. The player may now take a position on the bowling alley and, holding the grip in his hand with his thumb against the tliumbpiece on the thumb-lever 16, swing the ball or run with it and when he wishes push the thumb-piece, when the rod, being freed from the bolt, will he pushed by the spring so that the spreader thereon will be freed from the keys, which will be drawn within the slots by the leaf springs and the ball will be free toltravel iii the direction indicated by the preliminary movements of the player in obtaining inonientum therefor.

Having thus described my invention l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An article of manufacture, consisting ol" a bowling ball having a hole therein, a grip .device provided with a rigid stem adapted to be inserted iii the hole, a Ykey for locking the stem in the hole, and means in connection with the stem and the hole for moving the key into locking Josition.

2j in article of manufaoture, consisting oll a bowling ball having a hole therein, said hole increasing in diameter towards its bottom, a grip device having a rigid stem adapted to be inserted into the hole, a key for locking the stem in theliole, and means in connection with the stem and the hole for moving the key into locking position.

3. An article of inainifacture, consisting ol' a bowling ball having a hole therein, said hole increasing in diameter toward its bottom, a grip device provided with a rigid stem adapted to be inserted into the hole, a key ivoted to the stem, a spring for normallyY olding the key against the stein, and means in connection with the stein and the hole l or moving the key outwardly to lock the stem in the hole.

4. An article of mamifacture, consisting ol' a bowling ball having a hole therein, a grip device having a rigid stem adapted to he inserted into the hole, a longitudinal slot in the stem extending a distance from its inner terminal, a key pivoted in the slot for locking the stem in the hole, and means in connection with the stem and the hole .l'oi moving the key into locking position.

5. An article of manufacture consisting olI a bowling ball having a hole therein, a grip device with a stem adapted to lit the said 6. An article of manufacture, consisting ol' a bowling ball having a hole therein, a grip device having a hollow rigid stem adapted to be inserted in the hole, said stein having a -longitudinal slot extending a distance from its inner terminal, a key pivoted at one end within the slot, for locking the stem within spreader on the inner terminal of rod, and

means to bring the spreader into engagement with the free terminal of the key at the bottom of the hole in the ball.

8. An article of manufacture, comprising a bowling ball having a hole therein, said hole increasing in diameter towards its bottom, a grip device having a rigid stem adapted to be inserted into the hole, a key pivoted to the stem to' engage the wall of the hole to lock the grip device to the ball, a rod within the stem, and provided with a spreader for moving the key into locking position, and

means within the hole for moving the rod to operate the spreader.

9. An article of manufacture consisting of a bowling ball having a hole therein, a grip device with a stem rigidly secured thereto and adapted to be inserted into the hole in the ball, a key pivoted to the stem, a rod disposed within the stem, a spreader on the inner terminal of the rod, and means to hold the rod yieldingly with the spreader away from the key.

10. An article of manufacture,`consisting of a bowling ball having a hole therein, a grip device having a hollow stem Aadapted Ito be inserted within the hole, a key pivoted to the stem and adapted to lock the grip device to the ball, a rod arranged longitudinally within the stem, and provided with a spreader for engaging the key to move the same into locking position, means within the hole for moving the rod to operate the spreader, and a spring acting on the rod to lreturn the spreader to its original position.

11. An article of manufacture, consisting of a bowling ball having a hole therein, a grip device provided with a hollow stem adapted to be inserted into the hole, a key pivoted to the stem for locking the same to the ball, a rod movable within the stem, a spreader on the rod for engaging the key, whereby to move it into locking position, a spring acting on the rod to normally retain the spreader in inoperative position, a shoulder on the rod, means in connection with the ball and within the hole for movingthe rod to move the spreader into operative position, and a bolt for engaging the shoulder on the rod to hold said rod with the spreader in operative position.

12. An article of manufacture, consisting of a bowling ball having a hole therein, a grip device rovided with a rigid hollow stem adaptedp to vbe inserted into the hole, a longitudinal slot in the stem extending a distance from its inner terminal, a key pivoted within the slot and adapted to engage the wall of the hole for locking the stemvto the ball, a rod movable within the stem, said rod being provided with a spreader formoving the key into locking osition, a spring acting on the rod to norma ly maintain the spreader in inoperative position, means in connection with the ball and within the hole for moving the rod, whereby to bring the spreader into operative position, and means engaging the rod for retaining it in such position.

13. An article of manufacture, consisting of a bowling ball having a hole therein, a grip device havin a hollow stem adapted to be inserted in the hole, a key pivoted to the stem and adapted to en a e the wall of the hole to lock the ball an t e stem together,

'a rod movable within the stem, and provided with a spreader for engaging the key to move it into locking position, said key being provided with a notch for engagement by the' spreader, a spring acting on the rod to move the spreader out of operative osition, means in the hole in connection wlth the ball for moving the rod to bring the spreader into operative position, and means engaging the rod for retaining the spreader in such position.

14. An article of manufacture consisting of a bowling ball having a hole therein, a longitudinal groove in the said hole, a grip havin a stem with a longitudinal key adapted to t thesaid groove, a key pivoted to the stem, means to hold the pivoted key close to the stem, and means to extend it outwardly. 15. An article of manufacture consisting of a bowling ball having a hole therein, a

bushing within the said hole, the said bushing being frusto-conical in shape for a portion of its length, a grip device having a stem rigidly secured thereto and adapted to be inserted into said hole, a key pivoted to the said stem, means to hold the key close to the stem, Iand means to extend it outwardly.

16. An article of manufacture consisting of a bowling ball having a hole therein, a bushing within the said hole, the said bushing being frusto-conical in shape for a portion of its length, a fiber-like material extending from the frusto-conical portion of the bushing to the ball and to the surface of the ball to `conform therewith, a grip device having a stem adapted to be inserted into the hole in the ball, a key pivoted to the stem, means to hold the key close to the stem, and means to extend it outwardly.

17. An article of manufacture consisting of a bowling ball having a hole therein, a bushing within the said hole in the ball, the

said bushing bein frusto-conical in shape for a portion of its length, a projecting member at the bottom of the bushing, a grip having a hollow stem adapted to be inserted into the hole in the ball, a key pivoted to the stem, a rod disposed within the stem, a spreader on the inner terminal of the rod, a notch in the free terminal of the key adapted to engage with the spreader, and means to hold yieldingly the rod extended within the stem.

18. An article of manufacture consisting of a bowling ball having a hole therein, a bushing within the said hole in the ball, the

said bushing being frusto-conical in shape for a portion of its length, a grip device having a hollow stem adapted to be inserted into the hole in the ball, a key pivoted to the stem, a rod disposed within the stem, a spreader on the inner terminal of the rod, the free terminal of the key having a notch adapted to engage the spreader, means to hold the rod extended away from the handle of the grip, means for extending the rod toward the handle of the grip, ashoulder on the rod, a bolt passing through the stem, which is ada ted to engage the shoulder of the rod and iold the rod partially withdrawn from the stem, and a thumb lever on the outside of the stem controlling the bolt.

19. An article of manufacture consisting of a bowling ball having a hole therein, a bushing in the hole in the ball, the bushing being frusto-conical in shape for a portion of its length, a longitudinal groove in the bushing extending a distance from its outer terminal, a projecting surface at the center of the head of the bushing, a grip device having a stem for insertion in the hole, and means 1n connection with the stem for engaging the wall of the hole to lock the grip device to the ball.

20. An article of manufacture consisting of a bowling ball, having a hole therein, a bushing in the said hole, the outer and inner `terminals of the bushing bein of dierent 21. An article of manufacture, consisting of a bowling ball having a hole therein, al

bushing in the hole, said bushing being of lesser thickness toward the bottom of the hole, whereby to form a frusto-conical Wall for the hole, said hole being of greater de )th than the length of the bushing, a fiber-like material between the outer portion of the bushing and the ball and extending to the surface thereof, and a grip device provided with a stem for entering the hole, said stem having means for engaging the frusto-conical wall whereby to lock the parts together.

22. The combination with the bowling ball having a hole therein, of a grip device comprising a rigid stem adapted for insertion into the hole, a key pivoted to the stem for engaging the wall of the hole to lock the stem thereto, means for moving said key into locking position, and means within the hole for operating said moving means.

23. The combination with the bowling ball, having a hole therein, of a grip device provided with a rigid stem for insertion into the hole, a key pivoted t0 the stem and adapted to engage the wall of the hole to lock the grip device thereto, yielding means for normally holding the key in inoperative position, means for moving the key into operative position, and means within the hole for operating said moving means.

24. The combination with the bowling ball having a hole therein, of a grip device having a rigid stem for insertion in the hole, said stem having a longitudinal slot in the terminal thereof, a key pivoted in the slot and adapted to engage the wall of the hole to lock the grip device thereto, a spring normally holding the key out of operative position, meansfor moving the key into operative position, and means within the hole for operating said moving means.

n testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FELIX J. MCGUAN'E.

Witnesses MICHAEL J. MONAHAN, T. L. RroRDAN. 

